The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-05-26
THE ELECTION.
which Ballot Should We Cast, Anti-Prohi-
bition OF Prohibition?

THE ELECTION. !
which Ballot Should We Cast, Anti-Prohi-
bition OF Prohibition?
The following is an Essay which was
read before Barker's Creek Division, Sons
of Temperance, by Mr.. j. D. Duncan,
aud is published by request Of the Dl-
vision
We are on the eve of an election in
Anderson County. In this election all
legal voters will be allowed to cast their
ballot, but on which side should the ma
jority of these votes be cast, for prohibi-
tion or against it?
The anti-prohibitionist urges as his
plea for his position that prohibition
won't prohibit; that if you would give
them free aohiskey, there would be less
whiskey drank and fewer drunkards;
that prohibition is a Murray bill, sup.
ported only by q Murray faction; that it
is essentially necessary to have whiskey
in the community, because we are liable
to be snake bitten at any time; that if
drinking whiskey is such great moral
evil, and SO demoralizing, and a drunk
ard so obnoxious to our views, why do
ne find so many church members strong
anti.prohibitionists?; that prohibition,
|if it is enforced, would curtail the rights
of our citizens.
This is the ground on which the anti
prohibitionists stand, and, if-"it is merit
and not a title which gives Importance,
usefulness and not grandeur whichmakes
the world happy" it is very plain that
the foundation of their theory is thin,
exceedingly thin.
We should vote the prohibition. ticket.
Why? If prohibition won't prohibit,
what do the anti.prohibitionists expect
to win? If it is going to be the=same
thing any way, Why not vote for prohibi-
tion and then openly DEFY the law Ii
there is going to be less whiskey drank
and fewer drunkards, we should by all
means vote for prohibition. 1t would be
much more plausible to urge farmer to
turn his hogs into his corn field that he
would make better corn and more of it.
The idea of "free whiskey" producing
"less whiskey drank and fewer drunk
ards" is sophistry in the extreme.
Prohibition lis one of Murray's bills
The prohibition bill was originated, in
trodaced and engineered through the
Legislature by Maj. E. B. Murray, and it
affords me great pleasure to know that
we have one legislator in South Carolina
whose ambition and philanthropy ex.
tends farther from his noggin than his
nose. Mr.. Murray is not only prohibi.
ZIONIST, but philanthropist. Philan-
thropy defined is "the love of mankind ;
benevolence toward the whole human
family; universal goodwill; readiness
to do good to all men," Philanthropy is
the enlarged benevolence that takes in
the whole family of man. Itiguores and
rises above all kiudredship of blood, of
country, or of faith, and embraces man
because he is man. While it would first
embrace its oapn, which is both natural
and proper, it does not stop there, but
steps out beyond, with good feeling and
kind words for all. Tt is the outgrowth
Of enlarged mental grasp and outhowipg
sympathy of heart. Maj. Murray has
exhibited these qualitie. by placing pro-
hibition within our reach. He has
shown by his actions that he has good
feelings and kind a0ordsJor all; that he is
ever ready and willing to do good to all
men; that, while it is not within his
power, nor within the power of any other
man, to force the inebriate to stop drink.
ing, yet, he is willing to exert his inau.
ence, his talents and his time in placing
the temptation as far beyond the drunk.
ards reach as possible. But prohibition
is not supported by a SO called Murray
faction, only" but by the moral senti-
ment of Anderson County.
But the snakes, ah ! the snakes They
are dreamed about oftener than seen.
Vote the prohibition ticket and you will
get rid of them. Ishear the anti.prohi-
bitionist Church member talk so much
about the snakes, that I have become
somewhat suspicious. am almost
tempted to charge him with keeping a
pet snake in the back yard to bite him
every time he wants dranl. Some OF
them keep quite number, but they are
all named. One he calls "the Gout,"
another "the Colic," another "the Head.
ache," another "the Backache," another
"the Rheumatism" and when he wants
an extra large dram, he.gives it double
name and calls il, "the. Bilious Collie"
But the anti prohibition Church mem.
ber! How are we going. to dispose of:hia
.:"Auence? Alas the poor Church
| ,nber. His conduct is too often the
target for the DEVILS shsIrpshooters. he
| often reminds me Of ain old goose in a
shower of rain. He joins the Church
because it is the popular thing to do;
makes profession of religion because ii
is required of him before he can be ad-
mitted into full membership, and after
the baptizing comes in the simile of the
old goose: they give themselves good
all round shake, aud, as far as the appear.
ance of goose, or the conduct of the
Church member, would indicate, you
| could not positively assert that there ever
had been a shower of rain or shower Of
grace. But there is one thing that will
be very plain: if prohibition fails to
carry the election next August, Anderson
County will be considered by the whole
civilized world as very rood field for